Shams Charania Reacts to Criticism Over SGA, NBA MVP Report After Blake Griffin's Joke on Video

ESPN insider Shams Charania defended reporting on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning a second straight NBA MVP well ahead of its official release from the league.

Charania said Monday on The Pat McAfee Show he treated the news like any other breaking story surrounding the league:

Six-time All-Star Blake Griffin was among those who pushed back on Charania's choice. Working in his role for Prime Video, Griffin said the NBA insider should "go to brunch, you nerd."

For their part, Griffin and his colleagues are understandably miffed because the network partner was granted the right to make the full reveal. Steve Nash, a two-time MVP winner, provided the news that everyone already knew about.

It's easy to see both sides of the argument.

Charania is the foremost insider in the NBA, and somebody obviously tipped him off to SGA's achievement. Nobody would expect him to sit on something like a major trade or free agency rumor.

At the same time, one could question the ultimate value of preempting the MVP announcement. Nothing really would've been lost by having fans wait until Sunday night.

It's a little like when draft picks are tipped minutes before they're made, a practice ESPN and others unsuccessfully tried to curb for years.

Ironically enough, Charania went out of his way to refrain from spoiling the surprise while the first round of the 2025 NBA draft was unfolding.